It was alot of fun and very well done. The corn maze would scare the ^&(T^(&% out of you!!! It was alittle cold but the girls were warm from all the screaming!!!!
There are no good photos but the link has a video.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Haunted Corn Maze
22 Oct - Jamie, Sara and one of Jamie's friends, katie, went to Cox farms for a haunted hay ride and a haunted corn maze. http://www.coxfarms.com/fear/scares
It was alot of fun and very well done. The corn maze would scare the ^&(T^(&% out of you!!! It was alittle cold but the girls were warm from all the screaming!!!!
There are no good photos but the link has a video.
It was alot of fun and very well done. The corn maze would scare the ^&(T^(&% out of you!!! It was alittle cold but the girls were warm from all the screaming!!!!
There are no good photos but the link has a video.
Basketball Tournament
22 Oct - Sara participated in a basketball tournament in Baltimore at Johns Hopkins University. They played 4 games and Sara played in all games and with the A team (oldest and best players) for 3 of the games. She played very well for her first time in playing American rules and the court is a little different. She fought for many loose balls and was the only person to draw a charge! The team was rusty but won the first game by 11, the second by 43, the third by 23 and lost the last one by 16. The WHOLE team collapsed in the last game.
She enjoyed it and proved she could play at the level of the girls here. In the 4 games, she had 6 fouls and 6 points but she played great defense. She played about 80 of the total 128 minutes of games. We're ery proud of her doing so well despite not playing with the kids before.
Tryouts for the team are 7 November so wish her luck!!! Regardless of making the varsity or junior varsity, she will have a great time, represent her school as a RAM, and make friends on the team.
She enjoyed it and proved she could play at the level of the girls here. In the 4 games, she had 6 fouls and 6 points but she played great defense. She played about 80 of the total 128 minutes of games. We're ery proud of her doing so well despite not playing with the kids before.
Tryouts for the team are 7 November so wish her luck!!! Regardless of making the varsity or junior varsity, she will have a great time, represent her school as a RAM, and make friends on the team.
Sara is #45 in white jersey with the light blue pants in all the photos.
Korean Dinner
20 Oct - Our Korean friends are departing back to Korea in a few weeks so we wanted to try a Korean Restaurant with them before they left. We went to Hangang Restaurant in Annandale. http://www.hangangkorea.com/
It was VERY good and we enjoyed it with someone who knows what everything. We ordered the Korean BBQ and bulgogi with a seafood dish.
It was VERY good and we enjoyed it with someone who knows what everything. We ordered the Korean BBQ and bulgogi with a seafood dish.
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| All of us!!! |
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| Korea side dishes |
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| Seafood and noodles - shrimp, octypus, scallops, and rice cakes - VERY good |
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| Korean Beef cooking at the table on a little grill |
Jamie explaining what it is..............Ahyoung's is MUCH better :))
Political debate
19 Oct - Sara and Jamie attended a debate of local candidates for several offices. The election is 8 Nov. The debate was held at Robinson School that Jamie and Sara attend.
The candidates were for local sherriff and County Board of Supervisors from the local district that we live in. There were 3 candidates for the Board of Supervisors. Sara saw how we do local debates so the public can ask questions and listen to who they want to vote for to represent them in decisions on the County board. The board runs many things but most importantly to the students is the entire county budget which for 2012 is $3.3B ($2.4B euros) and what it allocates for the schools ($2B). The county budget is more than GDP of more than 100 countries in the world!! It would rank at #112.
There are a total of 10 members. The candidates gave a 2 minute opening remarks then the floor was opened for questions on any subject.
The girls enjoyed it and made their mind up who they would vote for. I vote in Florida and Kim votes in South Carolina. We will see who wins the contest.
The candidates were for local sherriff and County Board of Supervisors from the local district that we live in. There were 3 candidates for the Board of Supervisors. Sara saw how we do local debates so the public can ask questions and listen to who they want to vote for to represent them in decisions on the County board. The board runs many things but most importantly to the students is the entire county budget which for 2012 is $3.3B ($2.4B euros) and what it allocates for the schools ($2B). The county budget is more than GDP of more than 100 countries in the world!! It would rank at #112.
There are a total of 10 members. The candidates gave a 2 minute opening remarks then the floor was opened for questions on any subject.
The girls enjoyed it and made their mind up who they would vote for. I vote in Florida and Kim votes in South Carolina. We will see who wins the contest.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Washington Capitals Hockey game
18 Oct - The family went to a Hockey game - Washington Capitals vs the Florida Panthers. The Capitals won 3-0. Sara had a good time and enjoyed the game. 18,506 people attended.
The story about the game is at this link: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=400047186
The story about the game is at this link: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=400047186
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| We were at the TOP of the arena! |
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| Sports Fans!!! First Hockey Game!! |
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| LET'S GO CAPS!!!!!!!!!! ROCK THE RED!!!!!! |
Civil War Reenactment
15 Oct - We took several students to a Civil War reenactment. There were over 2000 volunteers in the reenacment of the battle of Cedar Creek in 1864. The students got to see what a hospital looked like, how the soldiers lived and ate. They got to look at cannons and horse cavalry. The final event was a battle showing how the Soldiers fought with artillery and marching and firing against each other. It helped bring what the students will learn in school when they study this subject in school. It was a WINDY day!!!
Seeing how the Soldiers in 1984 cooked meals
Cannons firing
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| Period Doctor telling them about medicine in 1864 |
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| Weinjie, Sara, Laura, Mint and Kirstin and little Patrick |
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| deep fried cherry pie |
Seeing how the Soldiers in 1984 cooked meals
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Soldiers Marching
Ethopian Dinner
14 Oct We went to a new restaurant in Springfield for Ethopian. It was VERY good and different. They do not use knives and forks - you eat with your hands using the bread (injira). We went with one of the other students from China.
After dinner, we took the girls to Krispie Kreme for HOT and FRESH donuts.
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| Sara's chicken and cabbage |
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| Pork and greens |
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| chicken in spices |
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| How to eat Ethopian!!!!! VERY GOOD we will go back |
After dinner, we took the girls to Krispie Kreme for HOT and FRESH donuts.
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| I make her look SOOO good :))) |
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| Heaven is made of these :) |
Sara showing proper way to eat a Hot and Fresh Donut
Spanish National Day (Fiesta Nacional de España)
12 Oct - In America, this is Columbus Day but in Spain, this is their day of National Celebration. They celebrate it as the Day Columbus discovered America and Spain because a world leader and took Spanish to most of Central and South America.
We went to a Spanish Restaurant in Alexandria and had tapas (small Spanish dishes) and paella (Spanish rice dish) - and DESSERT!! http://www.latascausa.com/site/
We went to a Spanish Restaurant in Alexandria and had tapas (small Spanish dishes) and paella (Spanish rice dish) - and DESSERT!! http://www.latascausa.com/site/
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| Cheese platter |
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| Sangria with apples |
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| Calamari - fried squid |
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| beef empanada (not as good as Sara's ) |
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| Pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon |
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| Seafood Paella - mussells, squid, clams, shrimp (not typical of Galicia where Sara is from) |
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| Churros with chocolate sauce |
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| Galician Orange Cake - Sara said her Grandmother's is MUCH better!! |
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| Spanish Rice Pudding |
Association of the US Army Convention
12 Oct - James took the girls to the convention at the DC convention center. This is a showcase for hte US Army where alot of companies come show their products and where units showcase what they do in their areas. The girls had a good time. It was different for Sara to see alot of equipment that we use in the US Army - weapons, training equipment, vehicles, etc.
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| Jamie and Sara with a STRYKER troop carrier |
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| Sara manning a rotating turret .50cal Machinegun |
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| The girls with Watson - the IBM supercomputer |
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| Sara at one of the displays |
Monday, October 10, 2011
Tour of Monuments in Wash DC
9 OCT - Sara, James, Jamie, Tot and James' aunt Alice toured some of the monuments on the mall. It was a very nice day
We will revisit these later and Sara will learn ALOT more :)
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| Korean War Memorial |
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| World War II Memorial |
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| Vietnam War Memorial |
Update
Sorry - it has been a while since we updated the Blog. We have done many activities in a month :)
Sara started school and changed a class. She dropped guitar and changed to Personal Fitness. It is part weightlifting and part health class on how to eat and live healthy. She will enjoy it.
9 Sep - Sara and James went to an event in Wash, DC to get the word out about exchange students and finding families. It was a program called the Global DC Initiative to get more kids in Wash DC exposed to the cultures and languages of other countries. The Mayor of Wash, DC - Mayor Gray - was the speaker.
17 September, we hosted the families of the other students at our house for an orientation for the students and families. We had some EXCELLENT foods and Sara made an excellent empanada with Ham and Cheese.
On 22 Sep, Sara went to her first High School Volleyball game at Robinson. She had a great time, it was a good game and Robinson came from behind to win 3-2.
23 Sep, We went to another football game at Robinson on 23 Sep but Robinson lost bad to Westfield high school.
24 Sep - Jamie had her first volleyball game. She is on a club team in Chantilly. The girls are getting their first volleyball experience and well, they had fun.
Later in the day, two other students from China and Thailand joined us for the afternoon and we went to a DC United Soccer game. United won 4-1 and we had a great time. The girls enjoyed their first hot dogs with alot of Jalapenos - they ate them up!!
26 Sep, The Washington Redskins played the evil Dallas Cowboys. Sara and I watched it and ate Chicken wings while watching! Washington lost :( :( :(
Kims parents visited us from 29 Sep - 2 Oct. We had a great time.
29 Sep - we went to Mad Fox brewery in Arlington. http://madfoxbrewing.com/ The beer was very good and the foot outstanding. See the next post.
Sara started school and changed a class. She dropped guitar and changed to Personal Fitness. It is part weightlifting and part health class on how to eat and live healthy. She will enjoy it.
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| First Day of School!!!!!!!! |
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| Mayor Gray |
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| Spanish Ham and Cheese Empanada...sooo good :) |
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| Our Students this year Omika from Georgia, Sara, Raul from Spain, Wenjie from China and Laura from Germany...great group of wonderful young men and women! |
On 22 Sep, Sara went to her first High School Volleyball game at Robinson. She had a great time, it was a good game and Robinson came from behind to win 3-2.
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| Robinson Volleyball |
24 Sep - Jamie had her first volleyball game. She is on a club team in Chantilly. The girls are getting their first volleyball experience and well, they had fun.
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| Jamie is the one on the left :) |
Later in the day, two other students from China and Thailand joined us for the afternoon and we went to a DC United Soccer game. United won 4-1 and we had a great time. The girls enjoyed their first hot dogs with alot of Jalapenos - they ate them up!!
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| View of the DC United Soccer Game |
25 Sep - I took the girls to a Baseball game. My favotite team, the Atlanta Braves were in town to play the Washington Nationals. It was the last home game for the season for the Nationals. Washington won 2-0.
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| Sara, Mint and Wenjie at the Braves Nationals Game |
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| Wenjie, Mint and Sara with President Washington |
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| Sara likes wings! |
29 Sep - we went to Mad Fox brewery in Arlington. http://madfoxbrewing.com/ The beer was very good and the foot outstanding. See the next post.
30 Sep, Sara, James and Jim (Kim's Dad) went to a Japanese Hibachi restaurant.
1 Oct - We had a yard sale to get rid of some of our stuff then went to a Belgian Restaurant for dinner. It was very good but in a small restaurant. http://cockandbowl.com/ See food entry for photos
More Food from September
Some of the different foods Sara has tried this month :) She likes different foods ;)
Sara also had a Peruivian Chicken and El Salvadorian food but we forgot the camera so we will have to go back to those places :)))
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| Japanese Rolls - yummy!! |
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| noodles, chicken and stir fried vegetables |
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| Pizza Carbanara from Mad Fox Brewery |
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| Nutella, banana crepe - fried and rolled in cinnamon and sugar - REALLY DELICIOUS!!!!!!! |
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| Japanese cooking |
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| Spicy Hot Wings (chicken) Best to eat while watching FOOTBALL!! |
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| Banana Belly Buster (Banana and icecream inside a crepe) |
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| Kim's Beef and Vegetable Stew with Rice |
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| Cinnamon Rolls |
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| Chinese Food |
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| Sweet Potato with Sugar and Cinnamon - Kim did not like |
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| Pork Chop, Broccoli, fried cabbage and bread |
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| Boston Market Turkey, Spinach and Veggies |
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| Noodles, Chicken and Broccoli |
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| Baked Noodles and cheese with ham |
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| Chili Hotdog with Jalapenos |
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| Indian Curry Chicken and Rice |
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| Belgian Waffle |
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| Five Guys Hamburger with Fries |
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| Belgian Mussels |
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| Roasted Chicken and Belgian French Fries |
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| Belgian Waffle with chocolate and whipped cream (Yes, I know it is upside down :) |
Sara also had a Peruivian Chicken and El Salvadorian food but we forgot the camera so we will have to go back to those places :)))
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